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Well, actually it's been less than a year for Rapina -- the last one was posted on December 25, 2010. She is working on the next chapter for this Christmas.Wolfee wrote:Well its now been over 1 year since Rapina posted the last chapter. Seriously its getting old that the writer won't even respond to requests for updates or give proof of life. I know I'm a bit testy over it. But I just really want the story to be completed.
hoping she'd actually respond same as the other SOL author which I mailed (vfloquet and lazlo zelazac) Not exactly a cliffhanger, although clearly opens up many different possibilities.expedient wrote:Great chapter. I hope it's not another year before an update 'cause it does kinda end on a cliffhanger...
Yeah. I guess before Avengene the Barony of Daelrath was the extreme outer frontier of [a Dutchy in] the Kingdom of Clairmont. Daelrath has been left behind as Avengene has been growing rich and powerful. There isn't all that much written about the economy in Rapina but I suppose the biggest advantage that Avengene has are the river trade routes whilst Daelrath only seems to have one badly maintained road to its seat of power. Its only reason to exist is to protect the other parts of the Duchy from being overrun by the mountain clans of trolls, orcs and giants. Maybe before Avengene turned up the other barons were throwing money at Daelrath to keep them safe. I'd guess also that the elves in the east helped to control the orcs before losing land to Avengene.samuelmichaels wrote:Daelrath sounds like a pretty marginal domain. Without the help from Bristol (or earlier, Avengene),
I wonder if it was ever viable.
Enough of one that I really want to know what happens in the next few days (storytime).samuelmichaels wrote:Not exactly a cliffhanger
That's my guess as well. Avengene is on River Augustana and has convenient communication to much of Clairmont.expedient wrote:There isn't all that much written about the economy in Rapina but I suppose the biggest advantage that Avengene has are the river trade routes whilst Daelrath only seems to have one badly maintained road to its seat of power.
Daelrath was no more than a skilled or lucky adventurer until a couple of decades ago. The fact that the King made him a baron,Its only reason to exist is to protect the other parts of the Duchy from being overrun by the mountain clans of trolls, orcs and giants. Maybe before Avengene turned up the other barons were throwing money at Daelrath to keep them safe.
I haven't seen any evidence of Avengene taking over Elfin land -- at least so far.I'd guess also that the elves in the east helped to control the orcs before losing land to Avengene.
Enough of one that I really want to know what happens in the next few days (storytime).samuelmichaels wrote:Not exactly a cliffhanger
[/quote]On the map page 1a reads:samuelmichaels wrote:I haven't seen any evidence of Avengene taking over Elfin land -- at least so far.
1a. This is Avengene territory conquered from the orcs or shaved from the elves
You are correct! I will have to update the wiki.expedient wrote: On the map page 1a reads:1a. This is Avengene territory conquered from the orcs or shaved from the elves
I wonder based on that map if Norwit is actually the old Avengene, aka Barony of Avengene.expedient wrote: On the map page 1a reads:1a. This is Avengene territory conquered from the orcs or shaved from the elves
Chapter 9, Rapina wrote:"That be th' case always," The captain chuckled. I sold the symbol an' the signet off, but I foun' out the name o' th' family yer reverend Evangeline belonged to. His father warr th' Marquis of Avengene. Th' way I understand it, th' marquis was the son o' a Northern baron, who was killed by orcs or some such. His dad gettin' killed must a made 'im madder'n hell 'cause 'e made 'imself into a war lord, an' expanded 'is holdin's considerably. He grabbed a lot o' land, an' 'is barony gave th' crown some fine military service in the border wars 'bout twenty-five years back. 'Cause a those things th' crown granted 'im a bigger title. Now 'es got ta be seventy ta eighty w' one foot in the grave. Chances are good 'is first born is already filin' half 'is shoes. I'll say one thing for ye, when ya go about getting yerself in trouble, ye get in trouble w' the best."
Chapter 61, Rapina wrote:Bellany nodded. "I had promised to tell you something about what was going on in the outside world. I might as well do that now. Avengene, the relatively new territory to the northeast has developed a religion based on a god of justice called the vindicator. I realize that there probably was no barony of Avengene when you were alive. Avengene did not stop at being a baron, however. He has expanded his holdings and was also indispensable in helping the King during a war that I am too young to remember. The King was so impressed that he made Avengene a Marquis.
"Lord Avengene has been steadily expanding his territory and at some point his son Evangeline developed the faith of the vindicator...
In short: Avengene was the son of a northern baron. Avengene expanded that established territory into a powerful Barony. The King made him a Marquis for services in the border wars. Marquis Avengene has been expanding ever further since.Chapter 67, Rapina wrote:"One should never discount any reasonable theory. Avengene is a Marquis. He did not gain that title through lack of ambition. He wishes to push the northern and eastern border outwards and to do that he needs rich lands that are far enough away from the battlefront that they can produce significant wealth to fund and supply his expansion. It is also important to remember that people do not have to act for one reason alone. Often there are a number of motivators. It is just that some are more politically palatable than others. Thus ulterior motives may be hidden while certain more acceptable ones are often touted before the public eye. Sometimes the more acceptable motives are real, but just as often they are nothing more than fabrications," Jamie explained.
One thing I found strange about this bit is Brianna's ignorance of these facts -- she was born and lived in Evandell,expedient wrote:Chapter 9, Rapina wrote:"That be th' case always," The captain chuckled. I sold the symbol an' the signet off, but I foun' out the name o' th' family yer reverend Evangeline belonged to. His father warr th' Marquis of Avengene. Th' way I understand it, th' marquis was the son o' a Northern baron, who was killed by orcs or some such. His dad gettin' killed must a made 'im madder'n hell 'cause 'e made 'imself into a war lord, an' expanded 'is holdin's considerably. He grabbed a lot o' land, an' 'is barony gave th' crown some fine military service in the border wars 'bout twenty-five years back. 'Cause a those things th' crown granted 'im a bigger title. Now 'es got ta be seventy ta eighty w' one foot in the grave. Chances are good 'is first born is already filin' half 'is shoes. I'll say one thing for ye, when ya go about getting yerself in trouble, ye get in trouble w' the best."
This reads as if Evangeline was trying to hide his exact lineage.Chapter 1, Rapina wrote:The reverend smiled with mock piety. "Birth is not important Rapina, it is the calling that matters. True, I was of gentle birth, the third son of a worthy lord, but for several years before I found my true calling, I served as an officer in the Marquis' army. Praise the vindicator I was called away from that thankless vocation to become one of his chosen."
It certainly appears that way. But if he was hiding it from Brianna or other villagers, it was not a secret for the nobles:expedient wrote:It is very odd.This reads as if Evangeline was trying to hide his exact lineage.Chapter 1, Rapina wrote:The reverend smiled with mock piety. "Birth is not important Rapina, it is the calling that matters. True, I was of gentle birth, the third son of a worthy lord, but for several years before I found my true calling, I served as an officer in the Marquis' army. Praise the vindicator I was called away from that thankless vocation to become one of his chosen."
It's hard to imagine that the older villagers would not have known about their lord's third son,In Chapter 57, 'Snubbery' Rapina wrote:Charles grimaced. "Blood is thicker than water. Dad never said it in so many words, but being baronet of Western Avengene gave him power over just about everyone in the baronety [sic] except Evangeline. Sometimes I think Evangeline looked on dad as nothing more than a steward who ran the baronety for him while he attended to spiritual matters that he considered more important."
